Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02270828 2004-10-05
CANTILEVERED PANTS HANGING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a hanger for one or more pairs of pants, in
particular, it relates to
a pants hanger having a stationary member and a spring biased gripping member
which provides
evenly distributed pressure against the stationary member for gripping a pair
of pants between the
two members .
Numerous types of pants or trousers hangers have been disclosed over a long
period of
Io time. U.S. Patent 707,192 issued to Aiken describes a trousers supporter
having parallel rods.
The spacing between two rods is barely sufficient to receive the four
thicknesses of the trousers
material but not wide enough to receive eight thicknesses of material which
occurs at the seam
portion at the extreme end of the trouser legs. Since this hanger is not
adjustable, it is limited to
certain trousers with a specific material thickness. This limitation makes
this type of hanger
t5 unsuitable with the wide variety of materials and thicknesses now
available.
U.S. Patent 2,492,325 to Schroeder describes a combination hanger comprised of
plurality of spaced parallel arms. The arms are spaced to receive the cuffs of
men's trousers
between an adjacent pair, however other garments can be draped over the arms
as well. Since the
arms are fixed with respect to each other, this pants hanger suffers from the
same limitation as the
2o above pants hanger with regard to the intended method of supporting pants.
As to draping
garments over the arms, the lack of a gripping arm requires careful balancing
of the garment over
the arm to prevent the garment from sliding off and falling to the floor,
where it will inevitably
become wrinkled or soiled.
U.S. Patent 4,557,407 to Bogaczyk describes a pants hanger having parallel
bars in which
2s a pair of pants are held between a pair of bars by the friction force
between the surface of bars and
pants. This technique is very sensitive to the fabric materials or fabric
thickness and is likewise
not suitable for hanging wide variety of pants.
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U.S. Patent 853,527 to Tye discloses a trousers hanger with a plurality of
fingers
proximally mounted to a plurality of corresponding pins which are parallel to
each other and
vertically disposed, enabling the distal end of each finger to swing
horizontally. The distal ends
of the first and last fingers are urged together by a compressed spring
between the extended
s proximal ends of the two fingers on the opposite side of the pins. Since
only the distal ends of the
fingers are compressed together, this hanger does not provide a uniform
compressive force
against the length of the pants legs. As a result, the weight of the pants
pulling on one side can pull
and stretch the pants material with undesirable results.
U.S. Patent 2,127,333 to Hall et al. discloses a garment hanger with a
plurality of pairs of
fingers. Each pair of fingers are connected at a proximal end to each other
and are free at the
distal ends. Furthermore, the free ends of each pair are compressed together
by a bolt and nut
adjacent the proximal end of the gripping fingers. Since the other ends of the
gripping fingers are
pivoted fixed in both patents, the techniques do not provide uniform compress
force against the
length of the trousers legs. This patent suffers from the same disadvantage as
the previous patent,
1s in that only the distal ends of each pair are compressed together, which
can result in misshaped
pants due to uneven stretching and pulling of the fabric.
U.S. Patent 5,607,066 to Hebberd discloses a pants rack assembly having two
rigid outer
fingers and two floating inner fingers which are pressed against the outer
fingers by two springs
disposed between them. The springs are supported by an additional spring
support arm disposed
2o between the two inner fingers. This patent can support two pairs of pants
between two finger
gripping members but it requires a middle spring support arm which increases
manufacturing
costs and thus increases the price of the assembly. Additionally, the presence
of the two coil
springs prevent a person from draping a garment, such as a skirt, necktie, or
other item, over one
of the inner fingers. If several of these assemblies were to be placed next to
each other, it would
2s be difficult to figure out which fingers are stationary and which fingers
are floating to determine
which way drape the article of clothing.
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Accordingly, none of the prior art hangers provide a simple construction for
providing
even pressure two arms to grip and hold a pair of pants between them. It is
therefore an object of
this invention to provide a pants hanger which simplifies the pants hanging
process and suffers
from none of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is another object of the
invention to provide a
modular hanging unit that can be easily assembled into hanging array for
hanging multiple pairs
of pants. It is also an object of the invention to provide an integrated
hanging rack for hanging
multiple pairs of pants. It is yet another objective of this invention that
extend the above mention
objectives to hanging skirt, neck tie and other items. It is finally an object
of this invention to
provide all of the features in a device which is inexpensive to manufacture.
to
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a pants hanging unit which is may be
mounted to a
vertical surface, such as a wall, other surface, such as a shelf, or is used
to assemble into pants
hanging array for hanging multiple pairs of pants on wall or under closet
shelf. The pants hanging
unit has a horizontally extending fixed base arm, gripping arm, and a spring
element, which
biases the gripping arm against the base arm. The spring element is attached
to the proximal end
of the base arm at one end and to the center of the gripping arm at the other
end. Since the
gripping arm can rotate freely on a vertical axis with respect to the second
end of the spring
2o element, and since the spring is attached at the center of the gripping
arm, the gripping arm exerts
a substantially uniform compressive force against the base arm regardless of
the thickness of the
material held between the base arm and the gripping arm. In use, a pair of
pants are slid in from
the front, or distal, side, between the base arm and the gripping arm and are
held vertically in the
unobstructed region between the inner adjoining surfaces of base arm and
gripping arm by the
biased force exerted from the spring element. The front ends of the base arm
and the gripping arm
have a gradual slanting surface to assist in sliding a pair of pants into
position. There is a double
seam recess region between base arm and gripping arm to accommodate thicker
double seam
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portion of a pair of pants.
The present invention allows the gripping arm to travel not only parallel to
but also at an
angle to the base arm to facilitate pants hanging process. This structure
enables a pair of pants be
slid into position directly or be slid into position while the front end of
the gripping arm has been
s partially pushed away from the base arm to eliminate crumpling of a soft
garment during initial
insertion.
In addition, a pair of pants may be freely placed into the final position
while the gripping
arm has been fully pushed away from the base arm. In this case the gripping
arm is released to
a resting position. In this manner, any possibility of blemishes caused by
rubbing a garment
against gripping arms is eliminated, which is extremely desirable in hanging
delicate garments.
The design also prevents belt loops at the waist portion of pants from
tangling with
gripping fingers during insertion and is suitable to hang a pair of pants with
leg side up or waist
side up.
The base arm and gripping arm may be fabricated from wood, plastic or metal
and the
1s spring element may be a wire spring, flat spring or other suitable
material. Also, the pants
hanging unit can be scaled to any desired size for different hanging
applications.
The base arm and spring element can be integrated into one combined structure.
For
example, the base arm and spring element can be integrally formed as a single
piece of plastic.
Additionally, this invention is extended to include a common base arm which
receives two
2o gripping arm assemblies, which comprise a gripping arm and associated
spring element,
positioned to the left side and to the right side of the common base arm to
hang two pair of pants.
This reduces the number of components and increases hanging density.
Furthermore, this
invention is also extended to include a base carrier with integral base arms
and/or common base
arms to receive multiple gripping arm assemblies in one integrated unit.
2s Additionally, the gripping arm assembly may be positioned substantially
above the base
arm to prevent a garment from sliding off the base arm when it is draped over
the base arm. This
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is especially advantageous when there is limited vertical space available to
support the garment at
the waist or bottom of the legs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows an assembled pants hanger in top view.
Figure 2 shows a gripping arm assembly, including the gripping arm and spring
elements,
in top view.
Figure 3 shows the assembled pants hanger of Figure 1 in profile.
to Figure 4 shows the assembled pants hanger of Figure 1 in top view with the
distal or front
end of the gripping arm pulled away from the base arm.
Figure 5 shows the assembled pants hanger of Figure 1 in top view with the
gripping arm
separated from the base arm.
Figure 6 shows the assembled pants hanger of Figure 1 in top view with the
distal end of
is the gripping arm pulled away from the base arm.
Figure 7 is a top view of an alternative embodiment gripping assembly having a
push tab.
Figure 8 is a profile view of a fully assembled hanger incorporating the
gripping arm
assembly of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a detail top view of an alternative construction of rear or
proximal portion of
2o the base arm.
Figure 10 is a profile view of the detail shown in Figure 9.
Figure llis a top view of a second embodiment of a pants hanger having grooves
in the
gripping arm and a ramp on the base arm enabling the gripping arm to travel
back and away from
the base arm, allowing a person to easily hang delicate garments.
2s Figure 12 shows the pants hanger of Figure 11 in profile view.
Figure 13 shows the hanger of Figure 11 with the gripping arm pushed back to
separate the
proximal or rear ends of the arms to make the insertion of delicate fabrics
easier.
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Figure 14 is a top view of another embodiment of a pants hanger having bracket
that is
modular.
Figure 15 shows the face of a wall bracket having slots to accept the pants
hanger of
Figure 14.
Figure 16 shows in perspective view a plurality of the modular wall units of
Figure 14
mounted to the bracket of Figure 15.
Figure 17 shows the pants hanger of Figure 14 in profile with the additional
feature of
pushing levers integrated into the spring element.
Figure 18 shows another embodiment of the pants hanger of Figure 1 having a
central
to common base arm and two gripping arm assemblies-one ouch side of the base
arm.
Figure 19 shows an array of pants hangers such as those of Figures 1, 8, 11
and 18, in
which the base arms and/or common bases arms are all formed integrally as a
unit.
Figure 20 shows a top view of another embodiment which may be mounted to a
pole in
which the gripping arm is disposed above the base arm.
Figure 21 shows a plurality of units according to the embodiment shown in
Figure 20
aligned to be mounted to a vertically extending pole.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
2o The invention will now be particularly described with reference to the
several preferred
embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a top view of an embodiment of the
present
invention including a horizontally extended base arm 11 and a gripping arm 21.
The gripping arm
21 is positioned side by side and parallel to the base arm 11. Base arm 11 and
gripping arm 21
may be made of molded plastic or the like, or formed from wood or metal.
Spring element 31
provides a biasing force, pressuring gripping arm 21 against base arm 11.
Figure 1 and
subsequent figures show base arm 11 and gripping arm 21 separated by a slight
gap only for
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purposes of showing the distinct parts. In reality, base arm 11 and gripping
arm 21 are in contact
with each other due to the force of spring element 31. Spring element 31 is
made from any
material but preferably spring wire which is strong enough to provide
sufficient transverse force
on to gripping arm 21 to hold a pair of pants vertically between gripping arm
21 and base arm 11
and yet resilient enough to permit it to be deformed sufficiently to separate
gripping arm 21 from
base arm 11 for insertion of the garment between the arms. Flexible molded
plastic, stamped flat
spring, or other strong, resilient material can be used as a substitute for a
metal wire spring.
Gripping arm assembly 20 is shown separately in Figure 2, and comprises both
the
horizontally extended gripping arm 21 and spring element 31. Figure 3 shows
the first
embodiment in profile view. Here, an upper recess hole 24 and a lower recess
hole 25 are shown
on the top side and the bottom side of the gripping arm 21, respectively.
These recess holes
provide a vertical pivot connection to the spring elements 31. Spring element
31 is a torsion type
spring formed from a single spring wire and having an upper section 32 and a
lower section 33.
Inwardly turned pivotal terminals 36 and 37 of the torsion spring sections 32
and 33 respectively
t5 are pivotally seated in the recess holes 24 and 25 located at the top and
bottom of the gripping arm.
Connection terminals 34 and 35 of upper and lower torsion spring sections 32
and 33,
respectively, are permanently imbedded into the rear region 14 of the base arm
11. Terminals 34
and 35 are imbedded either at the time of molding base arm 11 or base arm 11
is formed of two
pieces which are radio or friction welded together, permanently holding
terminals 34 and 35 in
place. Alternatively, terminals 34 and 35 could be press fit into slots (not
shown) formed in base
arm 11.
The spring element 31 biases the gripping arm 21 toward the base arm 11 and
also permits
gripping arm 21 to move transversely and rotationally in the horizontal plane
with respect to base
arm 11, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 . A pair of pants may be held vertically
in the unobstructed
compression region between the opposed inner faces of base arm 11 and gripping
arm 21.
As seen in Figure 1, the inner faces of the base arm 11 and the gripping arm
21 have recess
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regions 12 and 22 respectively to accommodate a thicker seam portion of pants
legs. Recesses 12
and 22 are optional and need not be located in the center of the base and
gripping arms 11 and 21.
The inner faces may also have horizontal grooves, a bump pattern, felt, or
other friction
enhancing measure formed or affixed therein to increase friction between a
pair of pants and the
s inner faces of gripping arm 21 and base arm 11. The front end of base arm 11
and gripping arm
21, shown in the figures on the right side of the page, the have gradual
slanting surfaces 13 and
23 respectively to facilitate pants insertion.
The present invention enables the gripping arm 21 to move not only at an angle
to but also
transverse to the base arm 11 to facilitate pants hanging process. This
structure permits a pair of
to pants to be slid into position directly or be slid into position with the
front end of the gripping arm
being partially pushed away from the base arm to eliminate crumpling of soft
garment during
initial insertion, as shown in Fig. 6.
Furthermore, a pair of pants may freely be placed into the final position with
the gripping
arm 21 pushed away at large angle to or fully pushed away from the base arm 11
as shown in
t s Figures 4 and 5. The gripping arm 21 is released to its resting position
to hold a pair of pants in
vertical position. This attribute not only simplifies pants hanging procedure
but also eliminates
rubbing of garment against hanging arms and is extremely desirable for hanging
delicate
garments.
Base arm 11 can be secured to a wall, shelf, or other surface or article in
any known
2o manner, such as by screwing the base arm to the wall. Any convenient part
of base arm 11 can
be secured to the surface or article, such as rear portion 14 or the arm
itself.
Figures 7 and 8 show an enhancement that can be made to the hanger of Figure
1.
Specifically, pushing tabs 26 extending vertically from the center of gripping
arm 21 are added to
facilitate pushing griping arm 21 away from base arm 11 to simplify pants
hanging. By providing
2s pushing tabs 26 both on top and bottom of gripping arm 21, the hanger may
be mounted with
gripping arm 21 on either side of base arm 11. Instead of being at the center
of the gripping arm,
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the pushing tabs 26 may be placed towards the front or other desired position
on the gripping arm.
Figures 9 and 10 show another enhancement which can be incorporated into the
hanger.
Figures 9 and 10 show a detail view of the rear portion of the hanger in top
view and profile view,
respectively. As can be seen, the rear portion of the base arm extends above
and below spring
element 31 providing support surfaces 19 and 19a against which spring element
31 can rest in the
case that the hanger is supporting a heavy garment. Additionally, posts 18 are
provided to
maintain the coils of spring 31 in position, further stiffening the springs
and preventing unwanted
deformation of the spring, and also preventing spring element 31 from sliding
out of base arm 11.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 show another enhancement which might be desirable for
hanging
delicate garments, in which the gripping arm 21 has spring grooves 27 and 28
located on the top
side and bottom side, respectively, of gripping arm 21. Inwardly turned
pivotal terminals 36 and
37 of the spring element 31 are seated in spring grooves 27 and 28,
respectively, and slide in the
grooves when gripping arm 21 is pushed inward or outward. There is a ramp 15
and a landing
zone 16 located in the rear region of the base arm 11. When the gripping arm
21 is pushed inward,
~ 5 it glides on the ramp 15 and moves away from the base arm 11 as shown in
Figure 13. A space
between base arm 11 and gripping arm 21 is formed when the gripping arm 21
rests on the landing
zone 16 and allows a garment to be freely be placed into the final position,
as shown in Figure 13.
In addition to being appropriate for hanging delicate garments, this structure
permits the spacing
between two adjacent gripping arms to be reduced, increasing pants hanging
density.
2o Figure 14 shows a top view of another embodiment of the present invention
implemented
as a modular pants hanging unit made from metal material. Of course, any
embodiment of this
invention can also be implemented as modular units. This embodiment may be
formed from any
desirable material but especially desirable results may be obtained if cast in
brass, formed from
extruded aluminum or stamped from sheet metal. In a sheet metal embodiment,
the gripping arm
25 would be stamped with several longitudinal cuts which then provide strips
which are then
expanded to receive spring element 31. The base arm 11 has integrated mounting
hooks 17 for
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mounting the modular pants hanging unit to a vertical base plate 41, shown in
Figure 15, to
assemble multiple module pants hanging units into pants hanging array as shown
in perspective
view in Figure 16. The mounting hooks 17 for each modular pants hanging unit
are inserted into
receiving slots 42 on the base plate 41 as shown in Figure 15. The base plate
may be secured to
a vertical surface and extends each modular pants hanging unit horizontally.
Figure 17 shows an optional enhancement which shows an alternative to pushing
tabs 26
shown in Figures 7 and 8. Specifically, spring element 31 is provided with
integral pushing levers
38 near its connections with gripping arm 21 to facilitate pushing gripping
arm 21 away from base
arm 11 during insertion of a garment.
to Figure 18 shows the present invention extended to include a horizontally
extended
common base arm 51 which has recess regions 12 and sloped regions 13 on its
left and right sides.
Common base arm 51 receives two gripping arm assemblies 20. One gripping arm
assembly 20
is positioned parallel to the left side of the common base arm 51 and is
permanently imbedded to
the rear left region 52, as discussed above with respect to Figure 3. The
second gripping arm
assembly 20 is positioned parallel to the right side of the common base arm 51
and is permanently
imbedded to the rear right region 53. This embodiment reduces part count and
increases pants
hanging density.
Figure 19 shows the modular pants hanging unit further extended to include an
integrated
base arm 61 which has at least one base arm 11 and/or common base arm 51
integrated into
2o integrated base arm 61 to receive multiple gripping arm assemblies 20.
Figure 20 shows a top view of another embodiment which disposes gripping arm
21 on top
of base arm 11. Although this embodiment may be mounted to a vertical surface,
such as a wall,
other surface, such as a shelf, or used to assemble into pants hanging array
for hanging multiple
pairs of pants on wall or under closet shelf, a possible enhancement is shown
in conjunction with
this embodiment which includes a hole 71 extending through the rear portion of
the base arm to
allow the base arm to be mounted to a vertically extending pole (not shown).
In this manner, the
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base arm will be permitted swing around such pole. If desired, locking means
(not shown) can be
provided to ensure each hanger unit is disposed at a fixed angle with respect
to the hanger above
and below. Such a locking means may include a set screw or other known means
of fixing each
hanger to the pole. Alternatively, engaging teeth or other cooperating shapes
formed on abutting
surfaces of adjacent hangers may be employed. This would especially useful to
display garments
in a retail environment and would ensure even distribution of weight around
the vertical pole as
well as provide a pleasing visual effect.
Figure 21 shows a plurality of the units shown in Figure 20 with each unit's
hole aligned
with the other units' holes. Another possible enhancement shown in conjunction
with this
embodiment is moving the connection of spring element 31 to gripping arm 21
back slightly so
that the holes 24 and 25 (see Figure 3) in gripping arm 21 which receive
terminals 36 and 37 (see
Figure 3) of spring element 31 are not placed in the narrow region of gripping
arm 21 adjacent to
the depression 22 (see Figure 1). This repositioning of the connection between
spring element 31
and the gripping arm 21, improves the strength of gripping arm 21 without
significantly affecting
the even distribution of pressure against a garment provided by gripping arm
assembly 20.
Having now set forth the particular preferred embodiments of my invention, it
is to be
understood that scope of my invention is not defined by the detailed
description above, but by the
claims appended hereto.
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